The Orlando Pride have signed Brazilian national team defender Rafaelle Souza to a contract through the 2025 season, the team announced Monday. Here’s what you need to know:
- A league source called the allocation amount the Pride spent in the signing a “significant investment.”
- Souza, who was named to Brazil’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup roster last week, will join Orlando after Brazil’s tournament run.
- The 32-year-old most recently played for Arsenal, where she totaled four goals in 35 appearances and led the club to the Conti Cup title in March.
A reservation worth the wait 😈#PrideOrDie pic.twitter.com/Nb7pnYtZ4j
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) July 3, 2023
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
How the Pride will utilize Souza
Souza played left center back with Arsenal, where coach Jonas Eidevall specifically pointed to her natural left-footedness as a benefit he was looking for in his ability to build out of the back under pressure. Left CB is currently the starting position for Orlando’s top draft pick of 2023, Emily Madril, which perhaps indicates that Orlando will have to ask one of the two to adapt to a new position.
Souza can move wider to fullback in a deep, deep pinch, but it seems more likely Orlando will ask Madril to shift right since she started the…
